Primary Care Clinical Lead (2 posts available)

Duration: Four-year secondment

Initial commitment: 1 Programmed Activity (PA) per week per postholder

Geography: One post principally supporting the northern and one the southern part of the SW GMS footprint

Working pattern: Agile working, with travel across the South West as required

Applications close: 30 September

Interview date: 7 October

As a Primary Care Clinical Lead, you will:

• Provide senior clinical leadership for the integration of genomics into primary care, neighbourhood health services and community-based models of care.
• Co-develop the SW GMS Primary Care and Population Health Genomics Strategy with the Population Health Clinical Lead and wider leadership team, focusing on a manageable set of deliverable priorities.
• Bring a primary care perspective to priority genomic pathways, including inherited cancer syndromes, familial hypercholesterolaemia, inherited cardiac conditions, family history and cascade testing, pharmacogenomics and risk-stratified prevention.
• Work with PCNs, ICBs, Clinical Genetics Services, NHS providers and other partners to support pathways that are safe, practical, equitable and workable within primary care.
• Work closely with GMS Primary Care Leads nationwide.
• Champion equitable access to genomic services and use population health intelligence to help identify gaps, unwarranted variation and priority areas for improvement.
• Help build genomics capability across primary care through education, engagement and the development of Genomics Champions and other clinical advocates.
• Contribute to innovation, research, service evaluation and the adoption of digital tools that support genomic medicine in routine care.

The posts are initially established at 1 PA per week per postholder. Within this allocation, the emphasis is on strategic clinical leadership, coordination and enabling delivery through the wider SW GMS and partner organisations, rather than direct operational ownership of all primary care genomics activity. The scope and time commitment may be reviewed as the service, national priorities and available resources evolve.

We are looking for enthusiastic and influential clinical leaders who:

• Hold a substantive appointment or honorary contract as a practising clinician within NHS primary care in the SW GMS footprint.
• Have significant clinical experience and a strong understanding of primary care systems, workflows and the pressures facing primary care teams.
• Have good knowledge of genomics and its current and emerging applications in clinical practice.
• Bring experience of clinical leadership, service improvement, pathway redesign or healthcare transformation.
• Can build effective partnerships and influence colleagues across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Have experience of education, training, workforce development or clinical engagement.
• Are committed to improving equity of access, population outcomes and patient-centred care.

This is an opportunity to help shape a developing regional primary care genomics agenda, working with clinical and system partners across the South West and contributing to the practical implementation of national genomic priorities.

You can read the full job description and person specification here: SW GMS Clinical Lead Primary Care Role Description v1.0

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, its priorities or how the two posts will work across the region, please contact:

Dr Maarit Brooks, current SW GMS Primary Care Clinical Lead (retiring) 
Mr Frank McDermott, SW GMS Deputy Clinical Director

Please send your CV and a supporting statement to rduh.swgmsaadmin@nhs.net, marked for the attention of Jonathan Miller.

The closing date is 30 September.

Interviews are planned for the morning of 7 October 2026.